‘Wild Old Women’ Close San Francisco Bank Of America Branch

A group calling themselves 'Wild Old Women' protest outside the Bank of America Bernal Heights branch in San Francisco, January 5, 2012. (CBS)

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – It was a slow-moving Occupy Wall Street protest, but it was an effective one. A dozen senior citizens calling themselves “the wild old women” succeeded in closing a Bank of America branch in Bernal Heights Thursday.

The women, aged 69 to 82, who live at the senior home up Mission street from the Bernal Heights Bank of America branch, decided to hold their own protest by doing what they called a “run on the bank.”

Tita Caldwell, 80, who led the charge of women with walkers and wheelchairs, said that they’re demanding the bank lower fees, pay higher taxes, and stop foreclosing on, and evicting, homeowners.

KCBS’ Doug Sovern Reports:

”We’re upset about what the banks are doing, particularly in our neighborhood and neighboring areas, in evicting people and foreclosing on their homes,” said Caldwell. “We’re upset because the banks are raising their rates because it really affects seniors who are on a fixed income.”

As they arrived, Bank of America closed and locked its doors, to the surprise and delight of the elderly protestors, who said that they had no intention of storming the bank.

The women waved signs, but didn’t march or chant, with one woman on supplemental oxygen adding that the group was too old for that.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

See we have this thing called the bill of rights maybe you’ve heard of it. but just ion case let me fill you in, I mean I understand that maybe YOUR GRANDFATHER was locking Jews up in Camps, but my Grandfather rolled his tank over those fences. but I digress. As I was saying the first article of the Bill of Rights gives people the right to express their free speech, of course that includes you as well, and your entitled to your opinion. But when people like you don’t exercise their rights and allow them to be taken away you make it that much harder for real Americans to hold onto and fight for their rights. Just because you don’t respect them doesn’t mean I don’t

Wow, Arthur Kinney, thanks for demonstrating what “brain mush” in action looks like. You should try actually reading the Bill of Rights you so ignorantly cite as your excuse. If so then you’d learn that Freedom of Speech gives the right to assemble and to express opinions. But NO it does NOT include the right to physically obstruct other citizens from THEIR RIGHTS to use a public bank branch, just because you have a gripe with it. And, if only you actually knew the facts behind those Nazi slurs you toss around so ignorantly, you’d see that it’s really Occupy bully tactics that have the most in common with the Nazi violent take-overs against others. It’s repulsive beyond the hundredth degree that you dare to pimp out Nazi atrocities for the sake of your clueless rant.

Sheldon, Golly, my history showed it much different. WHERE were the “NAZI” standing around on sidewalks and getting billy clubbed, tazered and peppersprayed?
Try taking a new look at the videos of OWS, and see the majority of violence coming from POLICE upon OWS demonstrators.
OR, are you too going to suggest kids SITTING no the STUDENT SQUARE at teh college they PAY tuition to attend and reside at, were threatening the cop that pepper sprayed thm “in self defense”?
Your bias is showing like a MINK COAT at a PETA convention.

Peeps, I’m sure Bank of America appreciates your unkind words. Even the most evil institutions need their willing apologists. Are you working for their Public Relations department? Or are you kissing their feet for free?

Hi someone. Not ealrly. I did not base it on that. I just used it as an example. It’s just that most of my friends abroad always tell me that people’s first impression of them is like that.But yeah, I feel you especially re your last paragraph. Most of my non-Pinoy friends always tell me that some of their lot find our being-so-proud-yeah-we’ll-rub-it-in when it comes to our achievements annoying sometimes, especially on the Web.and the Kurakot part. the sadder part is, you know there’s truth in that.Hey, thanks for dropping by. I appreciate your comment. It makes me rethink a number of things, actually.

I suppose had you been there you would have kicked the canes that these fine examples of senior citizens out from under them, stolen the air tank and to show your bravery tipped the woman out of her wheelchair. I now understand what kind, compassionate beings conservatives are!

Let’s keep this in perspective. The OWS did NOT show up with loaded weapons and signs threatening elected officials and the presdient, NOR show up armed to a presidential event, and yet, THEY got attacked by law enforcement at the requests of corporate bankers, outraged that bank customrers would want to do business in their banks.

Tell me, WHAT would you have thought had LEOs assaulted Tea Party “riots” for their threats, arms and “unsanitary use” of park property?

The people who continue to oppose OWS while insulting those that do with nasty rhetoric, name calling, and repeating Faux news generated properganda, stand out like a sore thumb. Your ignorance about the movement causes you to lose all credibility among those who have taken the time to EDUCATE themselves about what the movement stands for.

I don’t like the inclusion of ‘Faux news’ if only because people who actually think that Fox shows news will completely dismiss an opinion when they see this. Well. Such a person will probably dismiss any facts or opinion backed by facts anyways. So I suppose there is just no victory to be had. I agree that name-calling instantly makes a statement appear offensive and unintelligent. Because, you know, it is.

Love the article and that it makes the facts driving this protest clear. I also enjoy the hilariously ignorant comments below. These senior citizens are remarkable for being lending a voice to other seniors who are victims of foreclosures. The commentators are remarkable for reading an empowering story and noticing absolutely nothing about what it is about. Believe me, the ability to comprehend nothing from a short piece of writing is highly admired!

One fact is certain, the bankster and the healthcare system both of which these ladies were subjected too, must have taken a small fortune from these unsuspecting, with no mercy. These ladies are most likely unable to move the accounts as they may be very complicatedly connected to the on the edge life support system, on which. these hapless victims depend. This small action was most likely the only gesture, the ladies could pull off, they must have been very hurt to have been that drastic.

Do you know how hard it is for senior citizens to know and find out about things like those? Also, most of these are places that are only directed towards specific municipal workers to use as well, so they may be not able to use them, either.

So true. Ppl discredit themselves with their negativity, and I think its wonderful that these omen are taking part in the movement! Hopefully more and more people will take part in these protests from young to the elderly….and those of u whom are opposed to fighting for our right…what are you silently for the one percent?!

Most of the Boiler Rooms are off shore. They are staffed by folks that type from scripts that they have no clue as to what it means. They type for hours and hours for a dollar a day. I would like to know if they at least get Potty Breaks?

Generally paid trolls will include “potty”. references, drug use and sexual activities somewhere in their comments as character traits of “whomever” they are paid to troll. They also use words that refer to them as lazy, dirty, “get a job”, moochers. The best defense is not to respond to their trolling. Not that any is needed. Wonder if they get paid by the hits or responses to their troll remarks? There are companies that hire them. Capitalism alive though not well.

Your unkind callous comment lacks intelligence of reality. Many seniors bought houses they could “afford” before interest rates and taxes soared. Now many can no longer afford them because the BANKS have changed the rules to benefit their bottom line, and everything else has raised in price, too.
Let’s see YOU live on a $900 Soc Sec check.
These courageous women are protesting to cover your sorry butt, as well.
Buy some compassion on your next jog to the mall.

Not using a bank doesn’t solve anything. The problems will not go away (or be resolved in the customers favor) unless there is pressure to make them change their grredy ways. An honest day’s profit is one thing, but BOA has no concept of this (they use “profit” as a cover for their “greed” – look at what greed and corruption did to Enron).

How do people make a change? By standing together (strength in numbers). As an example, look at Cairo. Many people protested a much-hated leader. As a result, he got booted out of office. There is something that can be said for those that stand together that try and make a difference for others.

Banks have a fiduciary requirement to put people only in homes they can afford. That is unless they’ve decided they can make lots of easy profits on the front end by writing bigger mortgages that they can then sell to unsuspecting investors (like 401k folks). They get their money regardless of whether the people they were required to help can make the payments. Some people were given one monthly figure and then a few months later, after the bank had already absorbed their bite, found monthly payment 3 or 4 times higher. Should doctors be allowed to order thousands of dollars in extra treatment when all you need is a band-aid? No. And if they tried it, they could expect punishment. Since our government refuses to hold the banks accountable, then it’s up to the people.

They couldn’t vote with their money because the bank shut down upon the appearance of those SCARY, INTIMIDATING elderly ladies, with their oxygen tanks and canes. It just goes to show that, like all bullies, the Bank is just a coward at the core.

“Vote with their money” Are you joking? FYI financial transactions are a fact of real life. So are deadlines. Those old folks blocking the bank so that others cannot use that branch doesn’t hurt the branch at all. It only hurts the customers who needed to use that branch. Such as to deposit some cash to cover a check expected to clear that day. Or to submit in person a payment for a home mortgage, an equity loan, or other bank loan, instead of missing the deadline then getting hit with late-fees.

How many Bank of America EDD Debit Card users did those protesters convince to renounce their relying on Bank of America? ……..ZERO.

It’s astounding how utterly childish so many Occupy apologists are!!!! Especially on this page. They deflect from facts with namecalling & hypotheticals. Or they twist what one poster said into accusing him of things he never said … as a way to deflect from not answering his main points. Wow. Impressive. Trust me, people who didn’t comment on that, still notice. That’s ok. I guarantee you, wise citizens who see thru the double-talk and hype don’t rely on message board debates to know what’s true or not.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the Red Hatters would take an activist stance like this? Instead of sitting around thinking they’re “radical” for wearing red and purple, they could wear red and purple while Occupying the Banks! No one wants to pepper spray a Granny for fear of being caught on video and made viral. Tee hee! LOVE this level of activism…

Last year, mere days after Occupy Oakland held a big demonstration that included wanton vandalizing of major bank branches in and around downtown Oakland, then Occupy Oakland deposited $20,000 of donations into a Wells Fargo Branch nearby their former encampment in front of Oakland City Hall (which they’d vandalized). This choice bypassed the chance to utilize several local nearby community banks. Despite their public call for Bank Transfer Day, Occupy Oakland’s fund has stayed with Wells Fargo ever since.

Posters above complain about some comments being unfavorable to Occupy? Seems to me Occupy hypocrisy does a plenty good job of discrediting itself.

And now for the rest of the story: one of Occupy Oakland’s lawyers, Timothy Fong, had an account at Wells Fargo, which he was the process of closing. (Apparently, it takes the too-big-to-fail banks a long time to process the necessary paperwork.) In the mean time, he agreed to hold Occupy Oakland’s money in his account until the group’s incorporation as a non-profit was accomplished.

Rather than call out Occupy Oakland’s alleged hypocrisy, we should call out this Marshall troll for not stating *all* the facts.

That is so true about closing an account. I had to close out and ira account . This is no joke. It took 3 hours and then they forgot to sign the check. I drove 45 mins to my local bank where they stalled me for another 30 min because i did not realize that the check was not signed.My local bank made several phone call then told me my check was not signed. I then had to go back to Wells Fargo (45 mins ) There was no sympathy .I got the impression that they thought it was funny and my own small local bank though I was trying to fraud them. All Banks Need Some Correction.

Vandalization by black bloc anarchists… NOT by Occupy Oakland. Video is available of some OO protestors attempting to stop the vandals, at some points successfully… but that doesn’t fit your fantasy anymore than the reality of what they do with their money. Way to go ignoring the REAL problems with your childish diversionary tactics.

EnfantTerrible, your excuse is utter BS. The word was to boycott WF and you cough up FLIMSY excuses. A deposit of $20K can be processed on the same day into a non-big-bank.. The fact OO put the cart before the horse (re not-yet-successful 501c3 efforts) does not justify using the bank OO said to boycott.

It’s the exact same hypocrisy as OO saying boycott the big corporations … yet relying on known-tax-cheat Amazon.com to host a national system of Wishlist gifts of various Merchandise. And paid for by the public using big bank credit cards. Or Occupy’s reliance on big corporation cell phone devises and services, because it’s a convenient luxury OO refuses to give up.

In other words, Occupy doesn’t walk the talk, when it’s more convenient to grant themselves exceptions to their own rhetoric they want everyone else but them to follow.

OO protesters were seen attempting to stop vandals who (as retaliation for a false rumor) trashed the Whole Foods Market that day. What I saw was a famous Berkeley middle-school teacher who’s also a leader in the BAMN movement (and NOT a Black Bloc member) shout encouragements thru a bullhorn to protesters vandalize the banks. And at NO TIME in the past 3 months has Occupy Oakland ever come out to publicly disavow the actions of Black Bloc. Neither has Occupy Oakland disavowed the Marxists who flaunted that giant DEATH TO CAPITALISM banner the whole day of protest. Or who populate the protests with blatant signs seeking communist or socialist defeat of America’s democratic system of capitalism. Yes America is flawed. But if you think communism is an improvement, you’re sorely mistaken.

Way to go with YOUR childish diversions. And for the record, I happen to agree with imposing justice and change of laws to punish & prevent banking fraud & corruption. The problem I see is that NONE of the protest antics are going to result in it. Instead, tree-sitting and bickering and grandstanding for the cameras, over pouty demands to keep a tee-pee on the sidewalk, or block shoppers from partaking of money-saving sales on Black Friday, or blockade folks who need to make bank payments by a certain deadline or else face a fine, are all counterproductive bully tactics that DO NOT produce the purported goals.

Go ahead, prove me wrong! Name one thing that’s changed? FYI the bank reversal of new fees got implemented by customer exodus from banks into credit unions which began BEFORE Occupy jumped in to try to take credit for it. I know it as a fact, because, I’m in discussion groups where we advised each other of credit union alternatives long before Occupy jumped into that topic. So tell me, what banker has been prosecuted thanks to squatting on public property and disrupting civil commerce? What legislation has been reformed, beyond hollow speeches by indulgent politicians for the cameras?

Please explain to me how Pasadena’s Occupy float of plastic, which squandered unrecyclable bags to a 1 time use helps create ACTUAL real world social justice… instead of just a 15 seconds of fame then a gaudy mess that won’t decompose for a few hundred years.

Marshall, take it from a Banker (AND a supporter of OWS, OSO, OSP ans OTW), your information is pulled straight from your ass regarding bank procedures. Any deposit over 10K is automatically investigated under the Patriot Act due to legislation to curb money laundering from drug cartels. Any deposit made with a check of any type, even if made before the Bank’s cutoff time is never processed ‘same day’, much less on a new account. The only exception is if the Bank agrees to cash the check and then deposit before cutoff. If said deposit is 10K or more, refer to Patriot Act. Three sentences into your diatribe I dismissed you entirely. My only hope is that one day you’ll be able to smell your own breath.

Hey Marshall,
Just want to let you know that WE KNOW about you bootlickers of the rich and how you twist the truth as you favorite National Enquirer of news does Fuax News and Rush Limbaugh. You watch as your kind get beat up in the election this year, Because the conversation has changed and the bootlickers of the rich are going down. We see through your lies!!!!!

I see your discussion skills consist of hollow stereotypes, knee-jerk rhetoric, deflections, and childish name-calling. And a big void of facts. FYI “my kind” got raised to believe in self-reliance. You clearly don’t know the first thing about it, or me. That’s why I get by just fine at an income considered by others as poverty level, thanks to my self-employment. And that’s why I take a middle-of-the-road & think-for-myself view, instead of siding with the extremes of either polarized “side.”

Meanwhile incompetents & sheeple like you deflect from the hypocrisies I cited by falsely accusing me of riches & beliefs I never had, and, never aspired to, either.

Haha, meanwhile many protesters claiming extreme hate for big banks have no problem accepting public welfare handouts paid via a plastic-card system hosted by Bank of America.

I rest my case. I’d love to indulge your ignorance a little longer. But, I have to get back to my work, offline. …..Have a nice day. And enjoy your photo ops!

I am a 67 year old woman in SC who is involved in three Occupy Groups. I like the idea that these women took action together. Old rebellers may do it slower; but we’re just as informed, just as dedicated and just as effective as the young rebellers. We need every aged rebeller to join us on the streets – everywhere.

You people are all confused; allow me to explain it to you. In this country, if you are a bank or, a corporation, than you have unlimited first ammendment rights, (CITIZENS UNITED v,FEC). If however, you’re just merely an average citizen, than you have no first ammendment protections at all. In fact, in L.A. if you even think about free speech you get sent to a first ammendment re-education facility run by ex-judges and lawyers. Every body knows that nothing is as ethical as an ex-judge or a lawyer.

Myself and two other guys do this exact same thing in Sarasota FL. We were waving signs and talking to customers, as they went into the bank. After about five mins, the banks locked to doors and called the police on us and the police said nothing could be done to us, because we were standing on a public sidewalk.